Texans’ Brian Cushing focusing on Week 1 return

PEARLAND — While Texans general manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien locked in on the 2014 NFL draft, linebacker Brian Cushing had a more pressing issue to attend to this weekend: his inaugural youth football camp at Pearland High School.

Teaming with area high school and college coaches, Cushing led a two-day session that featured 350 children in grades 1-8. Sunday was the finale, with Cushing lofting passes to young wide receivers as eager defensive backs attempted to deflect his throws.

For the sixth-year NFL defender, the camp was another step in Cushing’s effort to strengthen his ties to a community he’s increasingly become comfortable in.

“Houston is my home now and it’s something that’s important to me,” said the 27-year-old Cushing, who is originally from New Jersey and starred in college at Southern California. “Growing up, it was just extremely critical to me to be at these camps and learn from pros. … So I know to give back and just to teach anything I know to these kids at this age, to try and instill it in them, is very important.”

Cushing’s primary message to the children who swarmed around him on a sunny, spring morning: If you have a dream, chase it.

“I had plenty of teachers and people telling me, ‘You should probably have a goal besides playing football,’ ” Cushing said. “It’s just one of those things that I feel like if you really want to do it and you have the tools and you stay consistent … to be the best at what you do.”

Cushing has remained directly engaged with the Texans since suffering his second season-ending injury in two years. He’s participated in the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning workouts and was a regular presence in 2013 at the practice facility and during games, following a devastating Week 7 left fibula/lateral-collateral ligament injury.

“It’s good, still. Obviously there’s a lot more time to get ready for the season,” said Cushing, who’s been limited to 12 games the last two seasons. “But I feel I’m well on my way to 100 percent. This year has been a lot easier and better than last year, as far as just progress and where I stand at this time of year.”

Cushing’s participation in organized team activities (May 27 to June 13) has yet to be determined. The linebacker is focused on being 100-percent healthy Week 1 against Washington and continues to view his return as a step-by-step process, despite having already received a medical greenlight.

“We’re just trying to figure out what we want to do, what kind of drills or whatnot to take part in,” Cushing said. “But I think I’ll be doing a good amount and we’ll see where I am and how I feel and kind of just discuss it as a group.”

He added: “We all kind of agree there’s no rush right now. … At the same time, there’s a whole new scheme that I need to get in and get as many reps as I can — get it down as best as I can right now.”

As for the revamped Texans’ defense, Cushing acknowledged it’s still too early to say anything definitive about how new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will reshape the unit. The upcoming draft is key for the organization and four months remain before Crennel must officially put his 2014 plan into action.

“I’m excited for these next couple of months to really just perfect myself and how I feel and to get ready overall,” said Cushing, who is certain he’ll remain at middle linebacker.